A disabled former Frisco ISD student and his parents filed a federal lawsuit against the district, claiming that a member of the district's personnel restrained him with excessive force and refused to accommodate his disability.
The lawsuit, which was filed in September, stems from two alleged incidents in which school personnel and a school resource officer ignored the student's known disabilities, used force against him and violated his constitutional rights.
The suit also alleged that the incidents were not isolated and said that they were part of a pattern by district personnel to harass and oppress other special education students.
However, the lawsuit alleges these incidents were not isolated. They are part of a broader pattern in which the district failed to accommodate the student’s disabilities, the complaint alleges.
The complaint also names the City of Frisco, alleging it failed to train school resource officers on autism, disability accommodations, de-escalation techniques and crisis intervention.
Zane Bonnett was a minor student with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety and other related conditions, the court documents said.
The lawsuit alleges violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Bonnett's constitutional rights.
One special education teacher allegedly pursued Bonnett, restrained him, handcuffed him and dragged him across the floor in one incident.
Bonnett spent the night in jail and was charged with making terrorist threats and resisting arrest.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the district said: “Frisco ISD does not comment on pending litigation or matters involving confidential student records. The district remains committed to protecting student privacy and following all applicable laws and legal requirements.”
